Tens of Thousands Participate in LGBTQ Community's Pride Parade in Tel Aviv

On Thursday, June 8, the annual Pride Parade kicked off in Tel Aviv. According to city officials, around 150,000 people participated in the march supporting the LGBTQ community, reports DW. This event is the largest of its kind in the Middle East, attracting thousands from around the world.

This year, the main events will take place over the course of two days. The Tel Aviv Pride Parade marks its 25th consecutive year, occurring amid rising public tensions in Israel. Since mid-January, large-scale protests against judicial reforms promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government have been taking place regularly.

Members of the LGBTQ community express concerns that the proposed changes could undermine their rights. Several ministers in the Israeli government, which is considered the most right-wing in the country’s history, are openly homophobic.